Leg-band.



Patented Sept. 1, 1914- THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOYOYLITHO). WASIHINOTON. D, C

- my invention, Figure 1 is a front view of onantns oqsoumvn, or ivrnnnosn, nassncnnsnms;

pspecification of meanest. Patented Sept. 1, 1914. Application filed February 16,1912.- SerialNo. 67$,050'. i I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C A' a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, county of .Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented :an Improvement in Leg-Bands, of which the follow- 111g description, in connection'with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawingrepresenting like parts. l This invention relates to leg bands for poultry or birds and particularly,,,to the means for locking the leg band to the leg. of the bird.

One familiar form of leg band which is now quite commonly. used consists of a strip of metal bearing suitable identifying marks and having a projecting tongue at one end and a slot at the other so that after the band has been bent around the leg of the bird the tongue can be inserted through the slot and then bent back on itself .thereby to secure the band to the leg. The material of which such leg bands are usually made is a flexible and easily-bent metal and where the leg band is held on the leg merely by the insertion of the tongue through the slot it frequently happens that a little force applied to the band will cause the bent end of the tongue to straighten sufficiently so as to allow the tongue to be withdrawn from the slot.

My improved lock comprises a locking finger secured to the band and situated to be bent down over the end of the tongue which is inserted through the slot thereby to prevent said end of the tongue from being straightened sufficiently to allow it to be withdrawn from the slot.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a selected embodiment of a leg band made in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the leg band bent into circular shape and the ends fastened together with my improved locking device; Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views taken centrally through the leg band and showing the manner of locking the two ends thereof together. 1

The leg band herein shown is of that type which bears a flexible strip having imprinted or placed thereon the identifying marks or numbers, but the invention is not confined to a leg band of this particular construction, as it might be applied to a "shown in Fig. 3, and the end band .fiwherein the identifying marks are placed d rectly on. the metal strip. r The band herein show-n comprises a strip 1 0f ductile metal which has itsedges bent over,

asjat 2, to form lipsfior flanges behind which a strip of celluloid or other similar mate- 'rlal is held,fsaid strip bearing the identifying marksf or numbers 4. One end of the strip is formedwvith a projecting tongue 5 and atthe other endof the strip is formed transverse 58101, 6 through which thetongue is adapted .to be inserted when the band is bent around the leg of the bird;

Leg bands haveheretofore been-made with the featuresthusfar described, and in applying suchL -a leg band to the leg, of a bird the band, is. bent around the leg and then the tongue 5 is inserted through a slot 6, as

7 of the tongue is folded down against the strip; While this construction answers fairly well in leg bands of small size, such as are used on pig'- eons and other smaller birds, yet I have found that when a leg band of a larger size suitable for hens, roosters, and other fowls, is made with this constructionit frequently happens that the leg band becomes subjected to a strain tending to draw the ends of the leg band away from each other, and when this occurs the pull of the tongue against the wall 8 of the slot tends to cause the tip end '2' of thetongue to be swung outward away from the body of the band into somewhat .the position shown in Fig. ,3, and if this strain is continued the tongue is apt to be withdrawn fromthe slot, thus unlocking the band andallowing it to drop from the leg.

In order to prevent this from happening and to provide a band which cannot be accidentally opened, I have provided a locking finger 9 which is adapted to overliethe'tip end 7. of the tongue and hold the latter firmly in place. This locking finger 9,.may be made in a variety of ways without departing from my invention. One simple way is to form a substantially U-shaped slit 10 in the body of the band immediately back of the tongue 5 and then to bend the slit portion 9of metal outwardly, as shown in Fig. S,*so that said portion constitutes thelocking finger. made in this way the slit 10 can .be formed in the metal of the band by the same die that cuts'out the blank from which the band is formed, thus obviating the necessity of a separate operation for forming the finger 9.

Where the locking finger. is I strains to which it is subjected in In applying a leg band embodying my invention to the leg ofa bird, the finger 9 will first be pressed outwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, and then the band will-vbe: applied to the legand bent into circular formandthe tongue 5 Will be inserted 1 through the slot 6, as shown in Fig. 8, the end 7 of the tongue being then bent down against the body of the band, as shown in Figs. 2 and't. The locking finger 9 is then) bent down into a position to overlap the end? 7 of the tongue 5, as seen in F igsZ and 41,; and this locking finger will'holdthe tip end} of the tongue firmly againstthe'body and? will prevent the bent end of the tongue fromr unfolding when strain is applied to the band? tending to open it. A band having my im-- provements will'be securely held on the leg; of the bird and will notb'e unlocked by any use, even'when used on big birds, such asturkeys, hens, roosters, etc;

While I have illustrated herein oneman-- ner of making the locking finger, I do not; wish to be limited to the'constructi'on shown. l Furthermore, I would state that thein Copies of this patent may be obtained for, five cents each, byaddress'ing the ordinary vention is applicable to other bands than leg bands-andmay beincorporated in a variety of bands that are designed to be placed about some object and have their ends fastened together.

Having I fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent" is As a new article of manufacture, a leg band comprising-a strip of-metal having at acne end a-slot and at theother end both a tongue to be inserted through said slot and then bent back against the body of theband, 'and'a locking finger flexibly connected to the strip" adjacent-the endof the tongue when the latter is thusb'ent back against the body, said finger being adapted to be over the-end of the tongue thereby to lock bent down the tongue in position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

I CHARLES O. BOURN'E. Witnesses:

LOUIS 0. SMITH, THOMAS" J DRUMMOND.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I O. 

